Parking to double for Wollongong Woolies

Work is about to start on the redevelopment of the Woolworths car park in Wollongong's CBD, effectively doubling the amount of parking for the supermarket.

The work will involve extending the present underground car park east towards Kembla Street and building a new external parking level on top of that - where the present outside parking exists.

Wollongong architect Robert Gizzi said the $12 million project would not only give the area bordered by Burelli, Kembla and Stewart streets a facelift but was a totally local project.

Mr Gizzi said the developer and builder was Realta Enterprises, which leases the site to Woolworths.

The development will provide an additional 100 parking spaces.

There will also be a wider footpath on Burelli Street with some new retail space fronting the street in front of the car park.

"We are putting a new glass lift in for better access to Woolworths and then, facing Kembla St, there is going to be a green wall," Mr Gizzi said.

"It is going to be a green active spine so it will be a living wall.

"As far as the car park is concerned it is all going to be environmental concrete. We are looking to build a green car park which is naturally ventilated. There is also going to be a shade structure on the upper parking level."

Entry to the supermarket itself will also be upgraded. There will be a pedestrian link between Burelli Street and Stewart Street and an entry point halfway along the green wall facing Kembla St.

"Council are really supportive of it," he said.

A total of 50 jobs will be created during construction with work due to be completed by the end of the year.